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In This Issue 6/Editor’s Note

Rocktober Anyone?

7/We’re Still Out Here

Rebuilding the Front Porch

8/Notes from the Clearing Running!

7

22

12

27

14

31

18

36

12/Cover Story

The Good Girls behind the Bad Boys

14/Double Feature

Local Runner Ascends Pikes Peak Northeast Arkansas Out of the Darkness Walk

18/I Do

Cockrill and Conyers Wedding

20/Smith’s Verdict **** Back to the Future

22/Read On

Camp Nine by Vivienne Schiffer

24/Things To Do 27/Faces 31/Tales Of a Transplanted Fashionista Retail Therapy

33/Batesville Area Arts Council 34/Downtown Guide 36/The Myopic Life Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

37/Experiencing God in the Everyday Needing a David

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October 2013

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The Good Girls behind

the Bad Boys

A Publication of Mead

owland Media, Inc.

Cover Photography by Robert O. Seat Cover Design by Joseph Thomas

Meet Your Writers...

Vanessa Adams is a Jonesboro, Arkansas native and became the Independence County Librarian in July 2011. She holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in English from Arkansas State University. She also holds a Master of Arts degree in Library Science from the University of Missouri.

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Leigh Keller is a high school Spanish teacher and Colorguard instructor at Batesville High School.

She is the director of the BHS Glass Slipper Project. Leigh lives in Batesville with her son, Cole, and a pack of dogs.

Alisa R. Lancaster is an Advanced Practice Nurse for the U of A Medical Sciences North Central. She has been in healthcare since 1983, the last 18 years with the UAMS system. Alisa and husband, Scott, have four children, two grandchildren, and two spoiled puppies. Alisa’s mission is to improve the health and wellness of others through education and practice. She welcomes feedback or comments at AlisaAPRN@gmail.com or 870.698.1023 Bob Pest is the president and Co-founder of Ozark Foothills FilmFest and the T Tauri Film Festival and Movie Camp. He works as a community development consultant for First Community Bank, teaches film classes at UACCB, and currently serves as vice-president of the Ozark Gateway Tourist Council.

1335 College Street (870) 698-0200 THIS PUBLICATION IS PRODUCED BY: MeadowLand Media, Inc. P. O. Box 196, Grubbs, AR 72431 870.503.1150 kthomas@eyeonmag.com PUBLISHER: Kimberlee Thomas Associate EDITOR: Bob Pest

Kristi Price spent all her life as a transplant, having grown up military. The Ozarks have always been in her blood though, and she’s proud to call Batesville her home after many years on the move. Kristi holds a BA in English and blogs about family and other mishaps at www. themyopiclife.wordpress.com. She is married to Erin and mother to Ethan, Emily, and Maggie.

MANAGING EDITOR: Joseph Thomas

Tanner Smith is a native of Manila, Arkansas. He has written movie reviews for the T Tauri Galaxy (www.ttauri.org/galaxy) for several years and is a five year veteran of the T Tauri Movie Camp.

He has made a number of films, ranging from horror to documentary, and has won awards in filmmaking and screenwriting.

PROOFING Department: Joseph Thomas Kimberlee Thomas

Chad Grigsby is a 32 year old native of Tennessee but now calls Arkansas home. He is the Pastor for Teaching & Shepherding at the Compass Church. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to Jessica and they have one son, Ezra.

ADVERTISING: Kimberlee Thomas Creative Director : Joseph Thomas AD DESIGN Department: Kimberlee Thomas Joseph Thomas

Staff PHOTOGRAPHERS: Kimberlee Thomas Joseph Thomas Robert O. Seat PRINTING COMPANY: Rockwell Publishing

Eye On Independence is a publication of MeadowLand Media, Incorporated. Editorial, advertising and general business information can be obtained by calling (870) 503-1150 or emailing Kimberlee Thomas at kthomas@eyeonmag.com.

Mailing address: P. O. Box 196, Grubbs, AR 72431.

Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements, unless otherwise noted, do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Publisher or the staff. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information presented in this issue is accurate and neither MeadowLand Media or it any of its staff is responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. Copyright © 2010 MeadowLand Media, Incorporated. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the Publisher.

All pictorial material reproduced in this book has been accepted on the condition that it is reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the photographer concerned. As such, MeadowLand Media, Incorporated, is not responsible for any infringement of copyright or otherwise arising out of publication thereof.

For advertising, distribution, or editorial contribution, contact Kimberlee Thomas, 870.503.1150, kthomas@eyeonmag.com.

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Eye On Independence received the 2012 Innovative Project award, which is presented to an agency or organization for outstanding, innovative, continuous or effective coverage of literacy issues, resulting in positive change or improvement.

Editor’s Note

Rocktober Anyone?

In September, we celebrated the birthdays of our daughter Lindsay (25) and our son Coleton (21). October brings about the birthdays of Kimberlee and our son Zedden (20) and I wanted to wish them a Happy Birthday. This October issue also gives me the opportunity to make two corrections for mistakes in the September issue: First I will apologize for printing the wrong address for T-Shirt Express in our Eye On Business. The correct Photo by Robert O. Seat address is 801 Harrison. Next I will apologize to Dr. Dylan Carpenter for listing him as Carpenter Dylan. So, everyone needs to go buy a t-shirt from T-Shirt Express and wear it over to Medical Park Orthopaedic Clinic and say “Hi” to Dr. Dylan Carpenter and tell them both that Eye On sent you.

This month, Bob Pest writes about rebuilding the front porch in our disconnected communities. Chad Grigsby questions our need for heroes while Kristie Price

Joseph Thomas

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takes on recycling. Vanessa Adams reviews Camp Nine, written by Arkansas native Vivienne Schiffer, about one of the Japanese American prison camps once located in Desha County Arkansas. Leigh Keller discusses her local retail therapy, Kimberlee features Ashley Freiert’s ascent to Pikes Peak, while Bruce Oakley features Mary Dorothy Robertson’s work with Northeast Arkansas Out of the Darkness Walk and I cover the Good Girls behind the Bad Boys.

We look forward to Rocktober, a street dance and cake walk in the Pocket Park on Main Street, October 12th, and we look forward to seeing you there. N

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Retail Therapy Reduce, Reuse and Recycle The Good Girls behind the Bad Boys A Publication of Meadowland Media, Inc.

October 2013

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We’re Still Out Here

Rebuilding the Front Porch Bob Pest

Unfortunately, Patrick Overton’s book, Rebuilding the Front Porch: Essays on the Art of Community Making, is difficult to find in bookstores and libraries; I know, I tried. Fortunately, Art of the Rural, one of my favorite internet magazines and a good source of what is going on in rural America, recently featured an interview with Patrick Overton by Savannah Barrett, community arts advocate and new writer. Barrett was fortunate enough to find a copy of Overton’s book. Her initial article demonstrates her understanding of the “As a native of rural Kentucky, I have been witness to both the blessing of belonging to a country community alongside the entirety of my extended family; and to troubling and significant changes in this community and our distinct cultural traditions. These changes have taken place amidst a mass exodus of industrious young people who have left in search of quality education, employment, and social resources; and in response to a lack of investment in those fundamental needs in their home community.”

Barrett’s interview with Overton focused on “the history of the rural community arts movement, and the distinctive differences between this movement and the more popularly understood community arts council movement” to quote the author. He continued, “What sets the community arts development movement apart from the [institutional] Arts Council Movement is the emphasis on self-improvement and self-education.”

Overton also commented on several of the issues I have dealt with in my earlier pieces: the exodus of intelligent young people seeking better education, opportunities, and entertainment; the importance of developing relationships; and the need for the support of philanthropists. American philanthropy’s 1% investment in rural America suggests, too often, that a seat at the table for “the rural” has been withheld

(Fluharty, 2012).” Overton echoes this explanation: “Public policy has utterly failed to recognize the essential contribution rural and small communities make…I think a lot of people who talk about rural don’t know what they’re talking about because they’ve never been there, they’ve never done it. They talk about rural as though it is a particular place, and though we know it is geographically central in our life, it’s really not about geography for us, it’s about everything that’s connected to it.”

Despite the challenges and obstacles that lay ahead, both Barrett and Overton are optimistic about the future. Patrick strongly believes that “arts are (and always have been) the way to authentic community expression.” Like Patrick, I see our rural communities as the path to a better country where creativity can not only thrive but also revive communities where people sit on their porches, talk about art and culture, and build relationships that unite and strengthen those communities.

Nations that have thrived have appreciated and dedicated resources to the arts and culture wherever the artists came from. Look at Italy, Spain, England, and France. America has placed sports, television, and other activities ahead of the arts and largely ignored rural artists. We can reverse that trend if we can follow Overton’s suggestion and return to the front porch, support the arts, and enjoy the small community feeling that allows us to think, converse, and create our own history. There are, of course, dozens of wonderful, rich art museums in America, but nothing that can replace the feeling of sitting on the front porch.

In conclusion, I wish I could have found a copy of Overton’s book so I could write a complete review, but I have learned a lot from the portions of the book provided by Art of the Rural and Barrett’s interview with the author. If you have any interest in arts or community building, subscribe (for free) to Art of the Rural. You know where to sit to read it.

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October 2013 7

Notes from the Clearing

Running!

Joseph Thomas And so the day came indeed when the fear that fed upon my childhood disappeared into the waving weeds that grow between the cracks of this neighborhood street where I find myself living, finally out loud!

And so I remove all of the shelves where all of my former voices crowd out the space in my head.

It was then that I began to run.

Not away as much as ahead and under the warmth of the sun that lights my way and fills my heart with the belief that I have arrived! N

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Arkansas Craft School Announces Upcoming Community Classes Starting in October, the Arkansas Craft School will be offering community craft classes in Pottery and Ceramics for both adults and for kids. Three nineweek sessions will be offered again this year. Session I, which will begin October 12th will run until December 21, 2013. Both classes will be held at the Craft School’s Artisan Studios at 110 East Main Street; conveniently and safely located right off the Square and next door to the Arkansas Craft Gallery.

Thursday afternoons from 1:30 – 4:30, “Pottery” will be taught by local ceramic artist, David Dahlstedt.

David and his wife Becki have been creating their line of decorative and functional ceramic wares produced under the name of Mountain View Pottery for many years. David is looking forward to sharing the skills he has mastered in a lifetime of pottery making with local beginning and intermediate pottery students. Tuition for the nine-week class is $275.00. There will be no class held on Thanksgiving, Thursday November 28th.

Saturday mornings from 9 to noon, Hannah May and Logan Hunter will be offering “Kid’s Ceramics and Art.” This class is available to students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Primarily focusing on ceramics and pottery, other projects will be worked on including crafts with a drawing emphasis. Both Hannah

and Logan are recent graduates from UALR, and have been teaching children’s art classes for several years.

Tuition for the nine-week class is $165.00. There will be no classes held Saturday, November 30, or Saturday, December 7.

Session II classes, which will begin January 2, 2014 will be announced later in the fall.

Visit the Arkansas Craft School’s website, www. arkansascraftschool.org for more information on these and other upcoming classes, as well as registration forms and scholarship applications. Students may also sign up for classes by calling Terri Van Orman at (870) 269-8397. The Arkansas Craft School, located in Mountain View, Arkansas is dedicated to the education of aspiring and practicing craft artisans for success in the Creative Economy. The Craft School partners with Ozarka College and Pulaski Technical College, who offer Continuing Education credits for all Craft School courses. Support for the Arkansas Craft School is provided, in part, by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, and the National Endowment of the Arts.

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October 2013 9

U.S. News and World Report ranks Lyon College in top tier Lyon College is ranked in the top tier of the best national liberal arts colleges for the seventh year in a row, according to the 2014 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges guidebook. Lyon also made the list of colleges whose students graduated with the least debt load.

According to U.S. News, these colleges emphasize undergraduate education and award at least half their degrees in the arts and sciences. Lyon is only one of a few schools in Arkansas that fits the criteria.

“I am delighted once again to see that Lyon College is in the top tier of this ranking,” said Lyon College President Dr. Donald Weatherman. “More importantly, we are among the colleges whose graduates have the least amount of debt when they leave college.”

U.S. News compiled a list of schools whose Class of 2012 graduated with the heaviest and lightest debt loads. The data include loans taken out by students from their colleges, from private financial institutions, and from federal, state, and local governments. Loans to parents are not included. Lyon made the list of 25 national liberal arts colleges whose students owed the least amount of money upon graduation.

According to U.S. News, the average amount of debt for Lyon’s 2012 graduates was $17,179. Lyon is the only Arkansas college or university on the “Least Debt” list.

Among the factors weighed in determining the Best Colleges rankings, the key measures of quality for national universities and national liberal arts colleges are: undergraduate academic reputation, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving, high school counselor ratings, and graduation rate performance.

Lyon College also was named to U.S. News and World Report's "Most Students in Fraternities" and "Most Students in Sororities" list with 44 percent of students in fraternities and 41 percent in sororities.

U.S. News also ranks national universities, which offer a full range of undergraduate majors, plus master’s and Ph.D. degrees, and emphasize faculty research; regional universities, which offer undergraduate

degrees and some master’s programs but few, if any, doctoral programs; and regional colleges, which focus on undergraduate education but grant fewer than 50 percent of their degrees in liberal arts disciplines.

The Princeton Review also recently recognized Lyon as a “Best Southeastern College” in its annual report for the tenth consecutive year and Lyon is included in Forbes.com’s “America’s Best Colleges” ranking.

In August, Washington Monthly magazine’s annual College Guide also named Lyon one of the best liberal arts colleges in the country.

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Students walk to class on the Lyon College campus. Lyon College was recently ranked in the top tier of best liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report.

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Lyon College Professor Dr. Russell Stinson teaches a music class. Lyon College was recently ranked in the top tier of best liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report.

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Mary Woods No. 2 Project Moves Forward Bob Pest

The resurrection of the sternwheel towboat Mary Woods No. 2 project and the related improvements and additions to the White River in Batesville are making progress. Steve Auterman, Architect, Planner, and Urban Designer, has joined the project. He is an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Memphis. Auterman, who works for Looney Ricks Kiss Architects in Memphis, also worked on the 2008 White River riverfront plan. This will be a major step toward implementing the 2008 plan for the White River with a supportive community.

Organizers, including Dale Cole, John Dews, Steve Carpenter, Jack Krepps, Cathy Drew, County Judge Robert Griffin, and Mayor Rick Elumbaugh, are confident that repairing the Mary Woods No. 2 and moving it up the river to Batesville will provide the momentum and the local support to make it happen.

The architecture and planning firm of Looney Ricks Kiss, based in Memphis, Tenn., has been engaged to help design the new Mary Woods No.2, its site and surroundings. Under the direction of First Community Bank, LRK prepared the Batesville Waterfront Master Plan in 2008, which created a vision for enhancing the White River waterfront with active river-oriented uses.

The plan called for a number of improvements to bring residents and visitors to Batesville to experience the

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In addition to the sitting of the vessel alongside the White River, LRK will be continuing the implementation of the Waterfront Master Plan by planning the area around the Mary Woods 2 site including nearby features from the 2008 plan. These include a pedestrian bridge over the White River near the spillway linking both sides of the river, a Ferris Wheel, information center, access to the river flats below the spillway, hotel and conference center, parking, lighting, landscaping and other improvements.

N Mary Woods interior, photograph taken from www. arkansasstateparksblog before it was submerged.

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October 2013   11

Eye On Cover Story The Good Girls behind the Bad Boys Joseph Thomas

Kimberlee and I have enjoyed immensely meeting the people in and around Independence County; collecting local life stories and finding the poetry in them. We’ve made more friends than merely business acquaintances and cherish them all. We enjoy sharing the great things happening in this county by its citizens that care and do so much for each other. There are sweet stories and tragic ones, nice stories and remembrances; this is a story of success and the strong, humble leadership that has made it so.

The ever expanding local industry, Bad Boy Mowers, is really the story of Robert Foster and Phil Pulley. They began honing their business skills by selling fireworks from the trunk of a car as teenagers. Robert Foster commented with a laugh at the Intimidator ribbon cutting in August of 2013, “No, a friends car, we didn’t even have a car.” The Intimidator is their latest 4x4 Side-by-Side Utility Vehicle.

The fireworks business expanded to fill a building. The next venture was Whole Sale Tire, a successful tire company south of the river in Batesville, and then there was Bad Boy Mowers. This sounds impressive enough, but when you realize that Bad Boy Mowers manufactured 265 mowers in their first year in 2002 and now make that many a day, you begin to get a sense of how impressive and adaptable this

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company really is.

Kimberlee and I stumbled upon their secret in a conversation with Scott Lancaster late in 2012. Lancaster, Bad Boy Mowers General Counsel, expressed just how indispensable the ladies in the office are and was looking for the best way to recognize them. Lancaster and Lennie Foree joined us as we talked to each of these ladies about their time at Bad Boy Mowers. Lancaster says, “It is truly an understatement to say that these ladies are the force of sustaining momentum at Bad Boy Mowers. The lineman on a football team don‘t often get the credit for a victory, but they are a key part of the responsibility for that success. So much of what we do, we are able to do because of the support that they provide us. They are extremely conscientious, dedicated and trustworthy.” Lancaster goes on to say that these characteristics are so very important for a closely held business that has grown to this degree.

“Simply put,” he says, “we are able to do more with fewer people because they are so trustworthy and dedicated to what they do.”

Valarie Martin is noted as the “Queen Bee” for her seniority at the company, but also because she knows the ins and outs, having been with the Foster-Pulley partnership since 1992 with Whole Sale Tire. Most of these ladies would hesitate when asked their job title. Foree, who is Marketing Director for Bad Boy, and joined the team around the same time as Martin to help grow the fireworks business, was quick to explain, “We actually took a long time assigning specific job titles because we all fill in where ever the work is. Martin’s title is, loosely, accounts payable, but she has done it all. She says it is a tight knit family that she works with and they all work together as if it is their company.

“I am amazed and proud at the growth of this company and wouldn’t have believed, if you told me in 2002, that we would be manufacturing and selling this many mowers in 2013.”

Lacey Thornton has been with the company for eight years. She mostly handles accounts receivable, but wears whatever hat they hand her. “I know all of these crazy people now,” she laughs, “It is never boring around here. If we’re not meeting celebrities, we are all making a mad dash to get something done so one person doesn’t get stuck working late. We are a big family that takes care of each other.”

Jan Webb has worked in accounts receivable for five years. She knows most of the employees from attending high school in Batesville. She takes the sales orders, secures the financing and sends the orders through

for build. She says she stays busy, but there is always time for fun. “They are all great people. Bad Boy cares about their employees and we care about our dealers and customers.” Lancaster says that he typically comes in early to hit the gym before work and Webb is often there to get an early jump on her work. He adds that she is one of the best cooks and often has many coveted homemade goodies at her desk for the entire office to enjoy. Webb was sick and unable to work for two and a half months at one point.

She describes how remarkable it is to work for a company that tells you, ‘Your position is safe, you just get to feeling better and let us know if you need anything.’

Mary Abbott will celebrate her third year at the company in March. She manages Bad Boy’s incentive program; Bad Boy Bucks offers dealers money back after so many mowers are sold. Abbott recently graduated from ASU with a degree in Human Resources. She says she very much enjoys the Bad Boy dealer meetings and that she spends time with her coworkers all of the time outside of work, “I love it.” Lancaster and Foree both express their pride and respect for her commitment to finishing school while working so hard for them.

Erin Jennings wasn’t sure if she even had a job title, stating that ‘Jack of All Trades’ was apropos to defining her capacity with the company since January of 2011, as is the case with all of the office staff. Jennings worked for the sheriff’s department for ten years and began to need a position more flexible for her schedule once her children began school. “If they don’t kick me out, I am here to stay!

It’s a great place to work; everyone pulls together,” explains Jennings. “When I started working here, I was skilled at police dispatch. Now I can enter invoices, scan documents and make cold calls. I have learned something from each of these women. I now have the skills to work any position in any office. Bad Boy takes care of us and when I have a sick child, I am able to handle it however I need to and that makes me want to do whatever they need me to do.”

“This is our number two Razorback Fan,” Lancaster comments as Mami Cooper strolls into the room. She says she is the number one fan, but either way she began this journey in January 2nd of 2012. Cooper works in accounting and does what is needed within this family unit. “I am happy to be a part of this company, once the work is done, we may hide under Brad Foree’s desk just to scare him.” says Cooper.

Lancaster recounts a morning three weeks earlier when one of the ladies hid in a box in the office and scared whoever decided to open it. Cooper adds

laughing, “We have a lot of fun. It‘s nice to watch Bad Boy grow everyday.” Foree talks about Cooper’s amazing work ethic and Lancaster brags on her football knowledge.

Adoree Johnson is Lancaster’s assistant and has been on board for the last three months. She says working at Bad Boy is an adventure. “This is a wonderful place to work. The women are wonderful and it is a great environment.” She says there is no snobbery or cattiness among the staff here, also describing it as a family looking out for one another. Lancaster adds, “Adoree came here from California as a vegetarian and struggled in her first trip to Hawg’s Exxon to find anything to eat. She said there were five different animals on the buffet and even the corn on the cob was fried.” Lancaster recognizes the importance of chemistry among the ladies stating that Valarie Martin stopped by his office to ask how well Johnson was doing for him. He said she was doing great to which Martin replied, “That is wonderful, because we love her so much.”

All of these ladies are an invaluable part of this company and add an inestimable amount of efficiency to Bad Boy and that is only aided by the fact that the atmosphere of Bad Boy Mowers is a rare one indeed. Foree says, “Phil Pulley once worked as a janitor and there is not a job here that is beneath him. He expects that kind of commitment from all of us. We see that everyday here; it’s a tremendous group of people that make up Bad Boy.” Phil Pulley reiterated what the ladies mean to the company by stating, “they make our jobs much easier because of how well they do their jobs. We’re fortunate to have each of them as a member of our team.” Lancaster finished up our conversation with an anecdote about the employee’s children being allowed in the office when necessary. “I was working in my office one day and there were kids just outside my door making a lot of noise playing whiffle ball. I opened the door to quite them down, and there was Phil Pulley playing ball with them and pitching. I quickly changed my plans and simply said, ‘Carry on…..I just wanted to see if anybody needed anything. Anybody need any water?’”

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Eye On Double Feature Local Runner Ascends Pikes Peak Kimberlee Thomas

Ashley Freiert grew up going on runs with her dad and participating on the track team in school. She had watched her dad run in marathons and often wondered what the appeal was to such long distance runs. It was not until she was older and running for exercise with close friends that she began to understand. “I discovered it is my time to think, to distress, get healthy, and just enjoy looking at what a beautiful world God has created for us,” Freiert shared.

On August 17, 2013 Freiert competed in one of the most grueling runs in North America, the Pikes Peak Ascent. It is a 13.32 mile run with 7,815 feet of vertical gain which begins in the beautiful town of Manitou Springs, Colorado nestled at the foot of Pikes Peak. There were over fifty runners from the Natural State in attendance for the run. Arkansas runners are famous in this race and when called to the starting line they gather round each other and call the Hogs.

“Wooooo Pig Soooooeee!” Freiert noted that they are called “Flat Landers” by the other runners. The Pikes Peak Marathon is the third toughest in the world and number one in North America. Freiert completed the Ascent which is considered the toughest part of the run. Gil Mitchum, formerly of Batesville, accompanied Freiert on the Ascent run. “Gil and I finished together holding the Arkansas Flag which I carried all the way up the mountain to an elevation of 14,115 feet. It took us five hours and fifty-four minutes to reach the top. The last three miles took two hours due to lack of oxygen and very steep rigid rocks. You literally could not make sudden movements or you would expend your energy, your heart rate would jump sky high and your breathing would become labored. This was by far the hardest thing I have ever attempted,” Freiert stated. Freiert’s dad, Johnny Mitchum, was the inspiration for the run.

He has completed the Ascent five times and the entire marathon eight times. Freiert has plans to go back next year and hopes to take many more Arkansas runners

with her. “I am so proud to be an Arkansas Runner!”

Freiert’s husband, Jonathan owner of Jonathan’s Fine Jewelry, accompanied her on the trip. He did not qualify to make the run but two days before the actual race he made the Ascent solo. “I was a bit apprehensive about him going alone. We dropped him off at the base of the mountain and six hours later he arrived at the top. I am so proud of him,”Freiert shared.

There are many hours of dedicated training that go into preparing for such an amazing run, but it is one that Freiert assures me even I can do with the proper training. She also shared,“There is something very special about Pikes Peak and I know now why it was the inspiration for the song "America the Beautiful." The feeling of spirit is with you as you climb those steep trails, passing boulders made out of granite, feeling the temperature change as you make your way to the top.

It's indescribable to tell how many emotions you go through, but one I know for sure is that God was on that mountain and you definitely feel his presence. If you are ever able to run this race or just drive to the top, please do, it is a have to on anyone's bucket list!”

Freiert finished 521 out of 1535 female runners. Her average pace was 26 minutes 36 seconds per mile which is amazing when you consider it is up hill all the way!

Her total time was 5 hours 54 minutes 24 seconds.

For more information on the Pikes Peak Marathon log on to http://www. pikespeakmarathon.org “You don't have to be fast or run nonstop to be a runner. Just get out there, walk, run, jog, whatever your comfort level is! Enjoy it! Carpe Diem!!!! Seize the day!” – Ashley Freiert N Starting line and Peak in view.

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Arkansas native, Fred Barr, built the Barr Trail that Freiert ran. She was excited to have been photographed in front of the commemorative plaque while holding the Arkansas flag.

Freiert with Bart Yasso. Yasso is one of the few people to have completed races on all seven continents from the Antarctica marathon to the Mt. Kilimanjaro marathon. See more at Bartyasso.com

Partial group of Arkansas Runners in attendance.

Northeast Arkansas Out of the Darkness Walk Bruce Oakley

Her hair is light, silvery with strands of gold. Her skin is light, the kind you worry about under the hot sun. The voice is light, gentle, the tone that tells you a friend is near in the toughest of times.

And the eyes, yes they’re light, too, but that’s only color. There’s a bit of a mist, a sense of distance, a window to a heavy load.

It’s the eyes that tell you Mary Dorothy Robertson is the right person for her position as coordinator for the Northeast Arkansas Out of the Darkness Walk promoting suicide prevention and awareness. The walk will be held at 10 a.m. Oct. 26th in Riverside Park under the auspices of the Arkansas Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (www.afsp.org).

In that gentle voice, Robertson tells the powerful story of how her own climb out of darkness began with the loss of her younger sister, Deniece, in 1982. Robertson was 17 and she says suicide then was something “not to talk about — nobody talked about it. I thought it was just something to deal with.”

So she kept it all inside, but the burden lingered and grew.

“I had a lot of guilt with hers,” Robertson says, though she adds that “as a 17 year-old there wasn’t much I could have done.”

Years later, she was dealing with her own depression and that early loss came out: “Until I was in my 30’s I just kept it in the back of my head.”

As Robertson conquered her own demons and finally opened up years later about the pain of her loss, she learned to walk toward the light in new strength, awareness, and empathy. Still, the Chicago native who grew up in Concord has been hit by tragedy again and again. Another sister died under mysterious circumstances, and by then Robertson knew to get immediate help rather than hold in the pain.

She tried to connect to help others facing such loss but didn’t know how to start. Still only beginning to reach out, a stronger, wiser Robertson kept on.

But new blows came. Two more close friends (one an

old school chum rediscovered only by online contact) fell into despair and took their own lives. And just two years ago, her stepson followed that dark path.

This time, Robertson searched hard for answers. She found afsp.org and clicked on “Volunteers.” She connected with Arkansas chapter board member Wendy Thompson and found out about a support group in Searcy, the S.O.S. Dr. Robert E. Elliott Foundation. It took another few months to work up to going to a few meetings, but that brought her back to the light.

“I’m really glad I went, three or four times,” Robertson says. “I hated to hear somebody else had to go through it, but in a selfish kind of way I was glad I wasn’t alone.”

She had grown used to a sort of dazed sympathy when people heard bits of her story, but this was energizing.

“I didn’t want pity,” she explains. “At support group it was different. Yes, they cried with me if I needed it, but that was not the point.”

Rather than merely acknowledging darkness, Robertson learned ways to spread light and climb out of darkness. She grew strong enough to lift others up. She got involved with AFSP as a volunteer with encouragement from Arkansas chapter president Shelby Rowe.

“I wanted to help closer to home,” Robertson says. “It took a little over a year to work up to this as something I could do. I made arrangements to do the certification course at home rather than travel — all of the classes were too remote.”

Now, she is always on the lookout for new volunteers to take those needed steps to help.

The long path has brought Robertson to accept leadership of the Suicide Support Coalition formed by Sandy Daniels, Batesville school-based mental health coordinator. The coalition includes representatives of the medical community, nonprofit organizations, the county medical examiner’s office and area schools and businesses.

From its launch in May, the group has been working toward the first Northeast Arkansas fundraising walk.

So much of the community is involved because so October 2013 15

much of the community is affected. The national Centers for Disease Control reported more than 38,000 suicides in 2010, one every 13.7 minutes, with nine of every 10 victims suffering from some type of mental disorder. Northern Arkansas is particularly hard hit, with Baxter, Cleburne, Fulton, Independence, Izard and Sharp counties with nine suicides per 100,000 residents age 5-24 annually, according to 2001-2010 Arkansas Department of Health figures. Counted as a cluster, Baxter, Cleburne, Fulton, Izard and Sharp counties have a higher rate of suicide among all ages than all but a few states.

But Robertson and the coalition know even these dark statistics offer a glimmer of hope. If 90 percent of those who commit suicide suffer from a mental disorder, recognition and treatment of the underlying condition is the key to prevention. That takes awareness and support infrastructure, which the Northeast Arkansas Out of the Darkness Community Walk will begin to provide. Registration for the walk begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at Riverside Park.

Information booths and grief support will be available, and the walk path will be lined with posters about prevention, warning signs, risk factors, and coping.

All may sign a Memory Wall and children will have a Cutest Halloween Costume contest, while walkers will have a Most Creative Costume contest. The walk will begin at 10 a.m.

The event is free and open, but individuals and teams are encouraged to go to www.outofthedarkness. org to register and raise funds. Sponsors may also make donations or offer hospitality or logistical support by contacting Tabitha Breshears, tbreshears@wrmc.com.

Robertson knows the value of the Memory Wall, because coping does not mean forgetting those five so close to her heart: “These five are there all the time — my reason for doing the walk.” She remembers highs and lows. “Birthdays are good days,” she says; “anniversaries (of loss) are harder.”

But the path from darkness is lit by the glow of remembrance and the energy of new friends, as Robertson writes on her Facebook page: “I don’t have any of life’s answers, but if you need a shoulder to cry on, I’m here. If you need someone to talk to, I’m here. If you need a hug, I’m here ...

If you are in crisis Please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.”

If you need help, heed that gentle voice. If you want to help, follow the light to: afsp.org, outofthedarkness.org, “Northeast Arkansas Out of The Darkness Walk” on Facebook — and Riverside Park on Oct. 26. N

Mary D. Robertson

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I Do

Cockrill and Conyers Wedding Kimberlee Thomas

Meagan Cockrill had moved home from college to enjoy her final summer break before heading to Jonesboro to complete her senior year and her degree. Her best friend, Erica Bolin, had also moved home for the summer.

The two decided to take advantage of being home and began sharing time with friends who had stayed in the Batesville area. Erica had a hunch that Justin Conyers would be a perfect fit for her bestie, Meagan. She talked Meagan into hanging out with a group of mutual friends knowing the Justin would be there. Meagan and Justin were introduced and spent the evening getting to know each other. They enjoyed each other’s company and began to see each other on a regular basis. “We knew I would be returning to school in the fall and so we never really talked about love or forever,” Meagan shared. As time drew closer for Meagan to depart for Jonesboro the two began to realize just how attached they had become to one another and decided to take a chance on a long distance romance. “We spent my entire senior year taking turns making trips between Batesville and Jonesboro to see each other. Looking back I realize we feel in love hard and quick,” Meagan stated.

The couple had been dating for two years and Justin knew that Meagan was the girl of his dreams. He had arranged for them to spend a weekend at the Crown Lake with his family to celebrate their second anniversary.

Meagan and Justin were the first to arrive at the lake.

While they waited Justin took Meagan out for an evening boat ride. He pulled them into her favorite cove, turned off the engine and let the boat float carelessly on the glassy water. “Justin knew this was my favorite place on the whole lake,” shared Meagan. It was there in Meagan’s favorite spot that Justin asked her to share her life with him as his wife. The answer was a tearful “Yes”. The couple returned to shore and spent the remainder of the evening celebrating with Justin’s family.

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My Honey Bee Photography, Haley Knapp

We are word of mouth for your EYES!

Meagan and Justin were united in marriage on June 8, 2013 at the Arkansas Experiment Station in Bethesda.

Leonard Tharp, Pastor at Cornerstone Community Church and longtime friend of Justin, presided over the double ring ceremony. The couple knew they wanted their wedding to be original to them and spent many months planning every last detail. Justin built many of the items used in the wedding including the archway and the letters that hung above the fireplace. Their theme was Country and Lace. The colors were soft pink accented by the antique blue mason jars used throughout the wedding and reception. Guests were greeted and seated to the sounds of vintage country love songs. Each section of the wedding party walked out to a specially picked country song with the exception of the Groom and his groomsmen. “They came out to ZZ Tops Sharp Dressed Man, it was hilarious,” recalls Meagan. “The night was wonderful and the reception party was so much fun.” The

couple spent five fun filled days on a cruise to Progresso and Cozumel. The couple agreed, “It was a very romantic and fun filled honeymoon.”

Meagan is a Unit Coordinator at White River Medical Center and Justin is a welder at Bad Boy Mowers. They recently purchased a home where they reside with their two sweet puppies. Meagan shared, “We plan on staying in the Batesville area near our families. We want to raise our future children around our families.”

Meagan’s mother found a quote the couple used throughout their wedding that Meagan felt described their wedding perfectly. It is a quote that this writer feels more young couples should take to heart when planning their big day. “A wedding is a party not a performance. If at the end of the day you are married to the one you love then everything went perfectly.”

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Smith’s Verdict ****

Back to the Future

Reviewed by Tanner Smith “Back to the Future” is an enjoyable, well-crafted, fantastic comedy that has probably one of the best screenplays ever executed to film. Written by Robert Zemeckis (who also directs the film) and Bob Gale, I can just watch this movie and imagine what it would have been like for these two to write this script. They must’ve had a great time—I see beers and snacks all around, chuckling, laughing out loud, and them just collaborating on new ideas and nodding in agreement. Or maybe I’m just being too positive. But what they delivered is a screenplay that, directed by Zemeckis, makes for a fun, entertaining, very well-written, even deep-at-some-points movie.

The story for “Back to the Future” takes place in 1985 (when this movie was made). Why do I bring this up? You’ll find out—though most of you reading this already know why.

The hero is a California teenager named Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox). He plays lead guitar for a garage band and has a nice, attractive girlfriend, named Jennifer (Claudia Wells), but his home life is an embarrassment. His older brother and sister are underachievers, his mother is a chronic drunk, and his father is such a nerdy wimp that he still lets his high school bully Biff push him around.

Marty’s wacky scientist friend Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) is excited about his newest creation and asks Marty to come to the local mall and document by video camera the experimental testing. The invention is a DeLorean vehicle that turns out to be a time machine. Doc has remodeled it with all sorts of gadgets to make it possible, and it turns out to work like a charm. But for complicated reasons, Marty winds up in the car/time machine and accidentally sends himself thirty years into the past.

It’s the year 1955. It’s the same town, same school, and same neighborhood…but the twist is that he’s now the same age as his parents. This is where the story really gets interesting and very funny—Marty’s relationships with his parents, who of course don’t know who he really is. Marty befriends his father George (Crispin Glover), who is still as nerdy now/then as he was then/now and letting the school bully Biff (Thomas F. Wilson) pick on him. His mother-to-be Lorraine (Lea Thompson), who in the future became a skeptical, slightly-ugly, overly protective mother, is a beautiful, popular girl who cheats on school exams and follows boys around. These two are supposed to meet an upcoming school dance and fall in love. But Marty accidentally interferes with their meeting for the first time and Lorraine, his own mother-to-be—get this—is infatuated by him. This means that Marty has to undo the mess he made and set up the date with George and Lorraine himself, so they’ll meet, fall in love, and have children…or he’ll be erased from existence.

Marty never would have thought that his mother used to act this way or that his father was always as wimpy as

he is. But something that just every person thinks of their parents, or at least every kid or teenager, is that their parents were never young. They were always the cynical, uptight beings that their kids see them as. Maybe the adults think they’re never as old as they really are, I don’t know. But “Back to the Future” has a pleasant fantasy spin to that. It answers the question of how a teenager would react if he saw his or her parents as teenagers.

Anyway, a few circuits on the time machine have been fried and as he convinces the 1955 version of Doc Brown that he’ll create this contraption, it turns out that the best thing to start it back up is with a bolt of lightning. But luckily, Marty knows when lightning will strike the town’s central clock tower and they have a week to prepare for it and get Marty back to the future. In the meantime, of course, Marty must settle things with his parents if they are still to become his parents.

This is great stuff! “Back to the Future” is full of neat ideas, it’s played for laughs (though there are some serious moments in the mix), its characters are memorable, and it constantly pleases with surprise after surprise. Everything has a setup and it all pays off by the time the movie is over—even the little details that you notice the second or third time watching it. There’s a great sense of comic timing along with its charming, lighthearted feel that you love watching this movie, even if the best parts haven’t occurred yet.

Some of the funniest bits involve the “fish-out-ofwater” story with Marty interacting with a different place— or in his case, the past. For example, everyone mistakes his down jacket for a life jacket, and he can break the handles off of a scooter and use the board as a skateboard to escape from Biff and his cohorts. My favorite bit is how everyone reacts when he performs guitar at the dance and plays his solo a little too wildly. What really should be noted is the set design for the town, recreating a 1980s small town to show certain similarities and differences for the ‘50s version. It’s very well-done and quite creative.

With the wrong actor to play Marty, the character wouldn’t have gained our sympathies with him and since a lot rides on him, we wouldn’t have cared that much for the movie. This shows that a great screenplay doesn’t just make a movie—execution is probably the most important detail, and that includes casting and acting. But Michael J. Fox is perfect as Marty—he’s cocky, frantic, and wisecracking, but he’s also friendly, bright, and has an unforced, natural charm that makes us like Marty and root for him to work everything out.

Christopher Lloyd, as both versions of the Doc (past and future), is memorably wonderful. He plays him like a stereotypical mad scientist (and even sports a lab coat and a fright wig)—brilliant, zany, and constantly exclaiming in excitement. He has some of the best, funniest reaction shots I’ve seen in a movie. The supporting cast is also solid—Lea Thompson and Crispin Glover have fun with their roles, past and present. (Glover, in particular, is wonderful as the nerdy George who just needs to boost his self-respect and self-esteem.) Thomas F. Wilson is cartoonish but very memorable as the bully Biff.

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Read On

Camp Nine by Vivienne Schiffer Book Reviews by Vanessa Adams

In one of my first book reviews for Eye On Independence, I promised to review Arkansas authors from time to time. Since that review published I’ve had a few library patrons ask me how I find Arkansas authors.

Sometimes I Google “Arkansas fiction writers” but more often I go to the Arkansas State Library’s Center for the Book. You would be amazed at the information available on the Arkansas State Library’s website: http://www. library.arkansas.gov. On the first page of the website, State Librarian Carolyn Ashcraft states, “The Arkansas State Library serves as a resource for state government, for public libraries, and for all Arkansas citizens. We offer a wide range of services with an overall mission to provide all Arkansans with access to information.” While visiting their website, do a search for “Arkansas gems” and see some of the works by Arkansas authors.

The State Library implemented a program, If All Arkansas Read the Same Book, in 2001, and with the exception of two years, the project has selected and promoted books written by Arkansas writers. In 2006 the project also featured F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby in conjunction with The Big Read, a national one-read project. To learn about The Big Read, go to the National Endowment for the Arts’ website at: http://www. neabigread.org/. The 2013 selection for If All Arkansas Read the Same Book, is Camp Nine, written by Arkansas native Vivienne Schiffer. Schiffer was born in Rohwer, Arkansas and is a University of Central Arkansas graduate.

She is an attorney in Houston, Texas and Camp Nine is her first novel. You can find more information about Schiffer at: http://www.vivienneschiffer.com.

Schiffer’s novel takes place in a fictional version of Rohwer, Arkansas during the early 1940s when Rohwer was the location of one of the Japanese American prison camps. Few realize that southeast Arkansas was host to two of these prison camps set up to hold west coast Japanese Americans, viewed as a threat to the United States after the Pearl Harbor bombing. The U.S. government wanted to relocate Americans of Japanese descent to areas in the country that were as remote as could be imagined.

Rohwer, in Desha County, Arkansas fit the bill. The small community of eighty-six quickly became host to a prison camp of nearly ten thousand. For four years a cultural oiland-water situation remained in Rohwer, then abruptly the prison camp closed and its residents returned to California, Oregon, and Washington.

Five years later, Schiffer’s mother moved to Rohwer after marrying a local land owner whose father had sold the U.S. government the land to build the prison camp in 1942. By the time Vivienne was born, very little evidence remained of the prison camp other than an old hospital building. Although she could see the building from her classroom window, Vivienne was prohibited from going near the place, which fueled the young writer’s imagination. As the former residents of the prison camp 22

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began revisiting Desha County in the 1980s, Vivienne’s mother became involved, guiding them on local tours, feeding them, and generally showing them the hospitality absent during the war. Vivienne became interested in their stories and eventually wrote Camp Nine, a fictional story based on her extensive research of the camp, known as the Rohwer Relocation Center.

The story takes place in Schiffer’s fictional town, Rook, Arkansas, and is narrated by its central character, a young girl named Chess Morton. Chess, who is part of the small privileged class of land owners, becomes involved with the Japanese Americans who are forced to live in the prison camp after Roosevelt’s declaration in 1942, which forced them out of their homes on the west coast. Chess, like the other residents of Rook, have lived a quiet, sheltered life in their remote Arkansas Delta community. When Chess becomes involved with two residents of the camp, her life takes an unexpected turn as she learns about injustice.

When a young American soldier, assigned to the camp, enters her life, Chess learns some mysterious facts about her mother’s past.

While Chess is the central character and is the coming-of-age young girl who is forever changed by the circumstances in her community, I actually found her mother to be much more interesting. Like Schiffer’s mother, Chess’s mother is an outsider of Italian descent who is begrudgingly accepted in the community when she marries the wealthy son of a prominent land owner.

Chess’s mother attended school in California and has been exposed to cultures unimaginable to the insulated residents of the tiny community in the Arkansas Delta.

She immediately became an ally of the Japanese Americans living in the camp, helping them adjust to their new lives, and becoming a trusted friend. The societal clashes between the interred and the residents of the community are no deterrent for Chess’s mother, and Chess must learn to accept her mother’s new role as liaison for the captive residents.

As soon as I picked up the two-hundred-page novel I was involved in the story, and managed to read it over a two-day period. I rarely allow myself that much time in a couple of days to finish a novel, but I truly did not want to put down the story until I had finished it. And, it wasn’t because I wanted to know “what happened” since I knew the camp residents were returned to their homes in 1946.

It was the fluidity of Schiffer’s writing that grabbed me in the first couple of pages and would not let me go. There was no abruptness to the story; it was smooth and pleasing to read, albeit a terrible subject. I found the story reminded me of Jamie Ford’s 2009 novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, which dealt with a similar subject.

The Arkansas Center for the Book has begun promoting Camp Nine as its 2013 If All Arkansas Read the Same Book selection, and we have two copies available at the Independence County Library. We can obtain more copies if the demand is great for this wonderful novel. I encourage you, this time, to follow the crowd and read on!

N

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Things To Do The International Tenors Opera, Musical Theater, operetta and pop performed as only true tenors can. Join us Tuesday, October 1st at 7 p.m. at the Independence Hall at UACCB and call 870612-2040 for more information.

Cyber Security Expo This expo is designed to raise awareness of the often serious breaches in cyber security and will be in the Lecture Hall 902 at UACCB on Wednesday, October 2nd from 1 to 4 p.m. Contact Lynn Bray at 870-6120-2080.

Knitting It’s not your grandmother’s knitting anymore! Whether you are new to knitting or just need a refresher, this class is for you. Lisa Krause, instructor.Fee: $34 plus supply fee: $7. Bring one skein of knitting worsted weight yarn in a color that is neither too dark nor too bright. Knitting needles will be provided. Dates: Oct 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 6 to 8 p.m. in the Row Johns Building, Room 801.

Beginning Needlepoint Materials will be provided and include the stretcher bars, painted canvas, needles and fibers to complete a 6” square. Deadline to register: September 26. Lisa Krause, instructor. Fee: $32 plus supply fee: $17. Dates: Oct 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 1 to 3 p.m. Row Johns Building, Room 801.

Conversational Spanish for Beginners As more Hispanics enter Arkansas’ workforce, the demand for bilingual employees increases. This class concentrates on conversational Spanish, pronunciation and correct grammar for effective communication. Tim Bennett, instructor. Fee: $67 plus two textbooks to be purchased at the UACCB Bookstore. Dates: Oct 7th, 9th, 14th, 16th, 21st, 23rd, 28th, 30th, Nov 4th, 6th, 11th, and 13th, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Row Johns Building, Room 803.

Intro to Microsoft Excel 2010 You must be able to navigate your desktop and have basic computer skills. Elizabeth Turner, instructor.Fee: $52 plus textbook to be purchased at UACCB Bookstore.

Dates: Oct 8th, 10th, 15th, 17th, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Main Classroom Building, Room 222.

Tactical Combat Survival (TCS) TCS is an instructional class with the goal of reducing participants’ odds of being a victim of a violent crime.

TCS combines lecture with interactive hands-on training of the physical techniques. Legal responsibilities and consequences are discussed in relation to the training provided. Ages 18 and up. Shihan Don Gregory, full range 24

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close combat instructor. Fee: $50/individual or $75/couple. Date: Oct 12th, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Annex Building, Room 404.

Organic Gardening - Winter Basics Master Gardener, Cheryl Anderson, will teach you about soils, manures and winter garden care. You will take home a huge list of resources.

Fee: $29. Date: Oct 19th, 9 to noon Row Johns Building, Room 816.

Learn How to Coupon Go from coupon-shy to coupon-savvy with cartloads of tips on cutting your grocery bill.

Deann Castleberry, instructor.Fee: $26. Date: Oct 29th, 6 to 8 p.m. Row Johns Building, Room 801.

Make Your Own Mesh Wreath Deann Castleberry of Ivory Owl will show you how to make your own mesh wreath. Bring ribbon, balls or decorative items of your choice to add a finishing touch! Fees: $20 per class plus supply fee: $20.

Date: Oct 8th, 6 to 8 p.m. (Fall/Thanksgiving wreath) Date: Nov 12th, 6 to 8 p.m. (Christmas wreath) Row Johns Building, Room 801.

Hunter Education This class, sponsored by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, is required for anyone born on or after January 1st, 1969. To hunt in Arkansas, you must carry a valid hunter education card. Youths under age 16 may hunt without hunter education as long as they are under the direct supervision of an adult who is 21 years old. There is no specific age requirement to enroll in hunter education. However, the educational reading material is based on a sixth-grade reading level. Mary Zirkle, instructor. Fee: FREE. Date: Oct 12th, 8:30 to 6:30 p.m. Nursing Allied Health Lecture Hall (NAH), Room 902.

Intro to Sewing Do you have a portable sewing machine but not sure how to begin? Learn how to properly operate your machine, how to thread and the basics of learning to sew. Marsha Cole, instructor.

Fee: $64. Dates: Oct. 14th, 17th, 21st, 24th, 6 to 8 p.m. Annex Building, Room 402.

Lap Quilting Learn how to make an heirloom while you are waiting for appointments or picking up children from activities. Bring your portable sewing machine and some fabric to make quilting blocks on the first night of class. Cindy Gillmore will show you how to put these blocks together into a lap quilt that you can quilt on the go! Fee: $49.

Dates: Oct 15th, 22nd, 29th, Nov 5th, 9 to 11 a.m.

Dates: Oct 15th, 22nd, 29th, Nov 5th, 6 to 8 p.m.

Annex Building, Room 402.

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Intermediate Sign Language This is an interactive class that will include using the vocabulary learned in Sign Language for Beginners, as well as expanding on additional vocabulary. Stephanie Patterson, instructor. Prerequisite: Sign Language for Beginners or prior experience. Fee: $49 plus textbook to be purchased at UACCB Bookstore. Dates: Oct 15th, 22nd, 29th, Nov 5th, 12th, 19th, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Row Johns Building, Room 814.

Intermediate Excel 2010 Moving beyond basics, you will learn to change the appearance of workbooks by incorporating Excel features.

Prerequisite: Intro to Microsoft Excel 2010 or prior experience. Elizabeth Turner, instructor.Fee: $56 plus textbook to be purchased at UACCB Bookstore. Dates: Oct 22nd, 24th, 29th, 30th, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Main Classroom Building, Room 222.

Failures Exhibit October 1st through November 1st the Alphin Humanities Building will host the Failures Exhibit from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Contact Carly Dahl at 870-307-7336 for more information.

Yoga/ Wellness Event October 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th, Dr. Patrick Mulick will host this Yoga/Wellness session in the Edwards Commons The Maxfield Room from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Contact Dr. Mulick at patrick.mulick@lyon. edu or call 870-307-7215.

John Brummett to give Patterson Lecture October 15th from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., John Brummett will speak. Contact Bob Qualls at 870-3077242 for more information.

Artist Talk Michael Markwick will speak from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the Nucor Auditorium in the Lyon business and Economics Building October 16th. Contact Dustyn Bork at 870-307-7336.

Oedipus The King October 17th, 18th, and 19th from 8 to 9:30 p.m. and on the 20th from 2 to 4 p.m. Oedipus The King will be performed in the Holloway Theatre. Contact Fonzie Geary at 870-307-7511 for more information.

All Over Independence

Redneck Olympics Saturday, October 5th at 10 a.m. at the Van Buren County Fairgrounds.

Living Joyously Series Cave City First Assembly of God is pleased to announce a six part series on dealing with depression.

This presentation is free and open to all October 7th, 28th, and November 11th, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Rocktober Fest This street dance and cake walk will be October 12th from noon to midnight in the Pocket Park on Main Street Batesville.

Community Wide Yard Sale The Batesville Guard will feature a general map of this yard sale area on October 11th. The yard sale will be October 12th from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. 870-793-2383 is the contact number for the Guard.

Quarterly Family Night: Fall Fest 2013 AR System of Care and CASSP Region 7 present this free event for the whole family. October 25th from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Cave City at 56 Hwy 115.

Monthly Fish Fry and Chicken Dinner The Hutchinson Mountain Community Center at 3370 Camp Tahkodah Road will be hosting their monthly Fish Fry and Chicken Dinner on Friday, October 4th from 3 to 7 p.m. Cost for adults and children 12 and up is only $10.00.

Children 11 and under eat FREE. Buffet, drink, and dessert are included. Take-out is available $10.00 for adult and $5.00 for children. For more information you may call 870-251-3458. The center is also available for rental by contacting Lea Barber at 870-612-4718.

Miner’s Day 5k Run/Walk October 12th – 8:00 a.m. – Cushman School 45 Park Street, Cushman, AR 72526 Location: Cushman School, 45 Park Street, Cushman, AR Registration Fee: $15.00 per person until October 1st $20.00 per person for late entry or same day registration.

For more information, email: rsanders@mandpbank.com or call 870-834-9383. Registrations forms are available online at www.wrroadrunners.org Course map available at www.runningmap.com search: Miner’s Day 5k Run/Walk October 2012. *Register before October 8th to guarantee your shirt size. Limited shirts will be available for race day registrations.

ATTENTION all Health Care Professionals!

UAMS North Central Diabetes Update: October 25, 2013, from 8 to 4:30 p.m. (with check in at 7:30)at the White River Medical Center, 7 CEUs, $25 includes lunch.

For more information contact: Alisa R. Lancaster at ARLancaster@uams.edu or Rhonda Woods at RMWoods@ uams.edu or call 870.698.9991.

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Faces

EYE

On Business

The local Batesville Board of Realtors recently donated time and material for the landscaping at the Habitat for Humanity home of the Richardson family. Bottom left is Joey and Jeannie Markowski, Paige and Bill Olson, and Greg Hodge.

Bottom right is the whole crew with Hayes Olson at the far left and homeowner, Andrew Richardson in the middle.

Pictured to the left, the ribbon cutting for Divine Studios at 266 East Main Street in Batesville seemed to cast a festive breath of fresh air for everyone in attendance.

White River Medical Center (WRMC) CommHealth Registered Nurse Carol Leffeler talks to Mary Baker before checking her blood pressure at the recent Free Blood Pressure Screening. Approximately 130 participants attended the community outreach event, which was held in the East lobby at WRMC. Known as the silent killer, high blood pressure can lead to increased risk for heart disease and stroke and, often times, has no warning signs or symptoms, making many unaware that they even have it.

Ringing in his tenth year at Lyon College this fall, Scottish Heritage Director and Pipe Major Jimmy Bell has quite a bit to celebrate.

Bell has won many awards for piping since joining the Lyon community, but his recent win at the Glengarry Highland Games tops them all. Performing “The End of the Great Bridge,” Bell won the Piobaireachd Society Gold Medal in Ontario, Canada.

The medal is awarded to the most premiere pipers in the world, being withheld if the competing pipers don’t perform outstandingly.

You may have noticed a keen new sign at 266 East Main Street as of late. Natalie Simpson and Kassie Foree opened Divine Studio of Photography and Design (across from Thompson’s Jewelry) April 1st of 2013.

Last year Simpson and Foree led a women’s Bible Study group on a series called “Divine Design.” As they grew to know one another better, they discovered they shared the passion of photography. Foree was eager to return to professional photography but wanted a partner this time. She approached Simpson with the idea and everything fell into place very quickly.

“With 6 kids between us and a full mommy schedule, the time from that conversation to the opening was a blur.

We both have strong faith and knew that someone else had a hand in all of this so we decided on ‘Divine Studios.’

We have big dreams but strong faith and we look forward to where this journey takes us.” states Simpson.

They are both inspired by the downtown area and would love to see Main Street flourish with businesses that reflect the arts and bring youthful energy to the district.

The studio has adequate space and offers a very convenient place for clothing changes and urban photo shoots. They are dedicated to catering to each client offering a personal, highend, and boutique-style experience.

Divine Studios’ clients will be pleasantly surprised at affordable options and on occasional seasonal specials.

Studio and Location by appointment only. Outdoor appointments are best made 30 minutes after sunrise and 1 hour before sunset. N

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We are word of mouth for your EYES!

Paxton named ED Medical Director at WRMC Annie Solis

Gary Bebow, Administrator/ CEO of White River Medical Center (WRMC), is pleased to announce the appointment of Jason Paxton, MD, to Emergency Department (ED) Medical Director.

Dr. Paxton is a physician in WRMC’s Emergency Department, as well as the Wound Healing Center. He has been at WRMC since 2003.

As ED Medical Director, Dr. Paxton will be responsible for appropriate staffing, ensuring accurate documentation, responding to patient feedback, and working closely with emergency physicians and staff to aid in overall quality and process improvement of Emergency Services.

“We are excited to have Dr. Paxton filling the role as our ED Medical Director,” said Gary Bebow. “Dr. Paxton possesses great leadership skills and expertise as an ED physician. We are confident that he will be excellent in this role.”

Dr. Paxton attended Medical School at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California. He completed his residency at the UAMS Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Northwest in Fayetteville. He is certified

by the American Board of Family Practice, the American Board of Preventative Medicine in Hyperbaric and Undersea Medicine, the American Wound Care Association, and the American Academy of Wound Management.

“I chose to practice medicine because I enjoy helping others, and challenging myself. This profession allows me to do both,” said Paxton.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to further serve my community as ED Medical Director.”

Dr. Paxton will continue seeing patients in the WRMC Wound Healing Center.

He and his wife, Lisa, have three sons, Ethan, Evan, and Corbin. They reside in Batesville.

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Jason Paxton

Kallsnick, Inc.

EYE

On Business

Raquel Biervliet was inspired by her three beautiful daughters to fulfill her dream of opening a boutique. “Being a native Amsterdamer, I wanted to bring a piece of my country into Batesville.” says Biervliet. A previous corporate job didn’t allow her much time at home and she wasn’t going to miss out on her daughter’s youth, so her family made a change. With much support from her children and future husband, Omar Carmona, Biervliet opened Small & Hip Children’s Boutique on December 15th of 2012.

“After Chasidy Cleaver helped me run the place for the first six months, I was able to run the store myself full time!

I’m very grateful to her.” says Biervliet.

Biervliet added, “I grew up in the fashion world with my mother being a top model and my dad a top photographer in his field. My brother and I have been surrounded with fashion our entire lives.

I think that’s why I have a passion for it.”

Small & Hip Childrens Boutique is located at 148 E. Main Street in Batesville. It is open Tuesday through Friday 10 to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 to 5 p.m. and Closed Sunday and Monday.

Small & Hip offer unique clothes and accessories. This boutique is a kid and family friendly place to shop. Using local talent, they add their beautiful work to the boutique such as, bows, diapercakes and skirts. They do photo shoots and fashion shows with local talent.

Biervliet’s goal is to do future fashion shows and raise money for the charitable programs around Independence. Small & Hip children’s boutique offers clothes for boys and girls sizes newborn to 16. N

A Hiland Dairy Distributor 423 Lawrence Street, Batesville, AR (870) 793-3924

Serving Batesville and the surrounding area for over 48 years Dairy Products, Deli Meat, Frozen Foods, Fresh Produce Paper Products, Concession Items . . .and More Walk-Ins Always Welcome Open Mon.-Fri. 8-5 and Sat. 8- 1

Family owned and operated Scott Kallsnick , Vickie Kallsnick Moser, Joan Kallsnick

Celina, Yannella and Marceya Biervliet.

See more of our FACES at www.eyeonmag.com.

Several Lyon College employees were honored Wednesday for their years of service to the institution. Kathy Whittenton received the Staff Member of the Year Award. Whittenton is the public services librarian at the college’s Mabee-Simpson Library.

The rest of the deserving winners can be found at https:// www.lyon.edu/news/lyonhonors-faculty-staff.

INDEPENDENCE COUNTY LIBRARY 368 East Main Street Batesville, Arkansas 72501 (870) 793-8814 www.indcolib.com Hours of Operation: Sun. 1:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Mon. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Tues. - Sat. 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Announcement about Humana Annie Solis

On January 1, 2014, White River Health System (WRHS) will become an out-of-network provider for Humana Medicare Advantage Health Insurance. WRHS representatives and the insurance company were unable to reach an agreement after lengthy negotiations. As a result, Medicare beneficiaries with Humana Medicare Advantage health insurance will be charged out-ofnetwork deductibles and co-pays for medical care received at WRHS facilities.

The facilities and physicians affected include: White River Medical Center (WRMC) and Stone County Medical Center (SCMC); WRMC rural health clinics such as Cave City Medical Clinic, Drasco Medical Clinic, Melbourne Medical Clinic, Newark Medical Clinic, Newport Medical Clinic, Pleasant Plains Medical Clinic, Strawberry Medical Clinic, and the WRMC Medical Complex; and physician offices such as Batesville Neurology, Batesville Pulmonology, Batesville Oncology, The Women’s Clinic, WRHS Behavioral Health

Clinic, WRMC Cardiology, WRMC Pain Management Clinic, WRMC Cancer Care Center, and others.

WRHS continues to be an in-network provider for other Medicare Advantage plans including, AR Blue Cross Blue Shield, Care Improvement Plus, and United Healthcare. WRHS is also an in-network provider for traditional Medicare, Medicaid and most commercial insurance plans.

“We regret any inconvenience this change may cause our patients,” said Woody Castleberry, Managed Care Coordinator. “It is important for us to have the opportunity to notify patients of this significant change to their insurance coverage so that informed choices can be made during the upcoming open enrollment period.”

The annual enrollment period for Medicare Advantage Plans is October 15, 2013 through December 7th, 2013. During open enrollment, Medicare beneficiaries are given the opportunity to make changes to their health insurance coverage.

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Leteveryone ndyou wherethey’realreadyat...

EYE ON INDEPENDENCE

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Tales Of a Transplanted Fashionista Retail Therapy Leigh Keller

When I first moved to Batesville, right before I had Cole, it’s no secret that I openly grieved my bigger city. I missed jumping into my car in the middle of Fayetteville, running to Starbucks and being just minutes away from TJMaxx and Target. I would window shop online, pregnancy hormones flowing, crying about how I missed my bigger small town, and how I might die if I didn’t have a visit to Hobby Lobby, Kohl’s or Old Navy very soon (sad, I know, but Hobby Lobby is a dangerous habit to kick). I wallowed in self pity, right up until Cole was born, and then it became obvious that I was way too exhausted to really care if I had $5.00 coffee made by someone who probably couldn’t even spell my name correctly on the cup, or to peruse the handbag and shoe aisles at TJMaxx for an hour. Sleeping, and really just surviving, became my biggest priority.

Right around the time Cole turned two, when you can kind of begin to have a life again (sorry, new mommies, it is the truth), I discovered several small town treasures here in Batesville. I think it was for my first Mother’s Day, Allen presented me with a gorgeous wooden bible box, with the word “Mother” carved into it. Of course, I cried (I still cry a lot, and Cole is 3, so I cannot blame the hormones anymore... there’s still one Carter’s commercial I simply cannot watch), because the idea that the box had been another mother’s treasure, and now it was mine, struck me as something so sentimental. “I got it at Olde Towne Mall on Main Street.

You should go there! I promise you would love it!!”, he said as he gently nudged me and my crying self out the door.

And so began my love affair with Olde Towne Mall on Main Street in Batesville. I had never really been a fan of flea markets, because the ones I had experienced had been not really my style. I always imagined old Elvis velvet hangings, and stuff my grandmother would have adored. But, Pinterest had just become incredibly popular, and I had recently given a lot of my extra free time (Ha!! Extra free time! You like what I did there??) to the website. When I first walked into the shop, I knew that I was in trouble. You are greeted with free coffee and a plate of cookies, and cute Mr. Davis, the official greeter of Olde Towne. You can sign the guest book, lock up your big bag (which frees up your hands to hold more stuff, those tricky shop owners, I am on to you) and be off to hunt.

I find myself daydreaming of quiet Saturday mornings where I can have an hour (or three) to myself, and can get there, just to hunt for treasures. I have found so many wonderful things there for the Glass Slipper Boutique (our high school non profit that matches girls in need to donated prom dresses and accessories) and a lot of our high school prom decorations came from there last year, honestly.

Sandra Bugh, owner, agrees with me that you should shop locally at Olde Towne, because “you can come here and find anything you want. Our prices are good, and we carry locally produced items, like fried pies (my personal favorite), fudge and jellies”. She says that they have a lot of regulars (apparently we could form a support group), and they have something for everyone. She’s right, because I find so much that I love every time that I’m there. If you find something

you like, you need to buy it immediately though, because, just like a great deal on a gorgeous bag at TJMaxx, it will not be there when you go back. Trust me. I saw an antique cake platter I had to have, but left without, only to have to fly (literally) into the store one day, out of breath, at 4:58 to retrieve it from the window before someone else found it.

Then there were the pink and blue vintage suitcases I had to have for the Glass Slipper Boutique. I walked past them and picked them up three times in the store, left, then made my friend Margo come back with me later to save them.

They get lots of compliments now, and have even appeared in someone’s gorgeous senior pictures (you know who you are, Amber Ursin).

The moral of the story is this, never discount a local place, before you have given it a chance. Since I have settled here in Batesville, it is my new home. Bigger does not necessarily mean better (unless you are talking about a diet dr pepper from Sonic) with towns, and it took me awhile to settle in here. Run in to Olde Towne sometime and fall in love like I did (but step away from any birdcages, sister, those are mine). They are open seven days a week, Monday-Saturday 10:00-5:00 (in case you need to run in at 4:58, like I do, since I am neurotic), and Sundays from 1:00-5:00. N

Leigh's Mother Bible Box

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October 2013 35

The Myopic Life

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Kristi Price

I picked up my little kindergartner at school last week. She climbed in the van with a solemn look and trembling lip. I could tell she had held in some kind of unhappiness all day, and it was about to come pouring forth.

“Maggie,” I said, “what’s wrong?”

In a torrent of words, she cried, “We watched a recycling video at school today and it said that when people can’t wear their clothes anymore they donate them and the donate places put them in bags and they send them to the other people around the world and they showed a picture of the clothes and I saw my favorite owl shirt on top and YOU GAVE MY FAVORITE OWL SHIRT AWAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!”

And then she bawled.

Fortunately, I was able to assure her that her favorite owl shirt is in the attic. She doesn’t believe me, but as soon as the weather changes, I’ll get it down and prove that I am not secretly siphoning off her clothes and donating them to area thrift stores.

At least not the ones she can still wear.

We’ve caught the recycling bug in our house, and indeed, outgrown clothes, paper, cans, glass, and anything else recyclable or reusable is earmarked for a new destination, the one called Not My House. Part good will, part desire to remove clutter, has made me fastidious about separating plastic from trash and cleaning out drawers. And if I need more motivation to carry on, I need only drive to Little Rock and pass Trash Mountain outside of Jacksonville. Knowing landfills exist, but then actually seeing one, will do a lot to retrain your thinking on trash.

This is why I’m super excited about Sulphur Rock Magnet’s large sustainability grant administered by Pam Baxter through the STEM Lab. During STEM Lab (Science Technology Engineering and Math), students

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in all grades will examine different components of the sustainability/recycling process. They’ll capture rainwater to feed the greenhouse plants; they’ll measure water consumption at the school; they’ll manage paper, aluminium, and plastic bottle recycling; and so much more. Furthermore, Independence County supports recycling efforts, and both our household and our school proudly participate. If you aren’t yet recycling, I’d encourage you to get on board. The county makes it easy with free bins and curb-side pick-up. How hard is that?

We tried to take it a step further this school year in our house. I bought all reusable containers to eliminate the daily waste of sandwich and snack bags, drink cartons, and plastic spoons. I should have known this wasn’t going to go well when my son first threw away one of my stainless steel spoons. Then the containers started to disappear. Finally, when he completely lost his lunch box, I threw in the towel. While his sisters dutifully tote their completely reusable lunch kits, he carries a paper sack full of Ziploc bags and plastic water bottles.

I can only fight one battle at a time, folks. And an absent-minded third grade boy isn’t one of them.

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Experiencing God in the Everyday Needing a David

Pastor Chad Grigsby According to Wikipedia, since the year 2000 there have been 49 comic book movies made. Thirty-four more super hero movies are in the works. Why such an influx of heroes? One seemingly obvious answer is money. People will pay to see these, so they are being produced rapidly.

The Dark Knight Rises, the final film in the Dark Knight trilogy, made over half a billion dollars. Many filmmaking companies are scrambling to produce the same type of results. And who could blame them?

We are a culture obsessed with heroes. Whether comic book stars on the big screen or celebrities or professional athletes, we all idolize someone. We all are looking for a hero, someone who would change everything for us. That one person that would give us what we are really longing for. We are starved for this.

So too were the people of Israel in the Old Testament book of First Samuel. Every day their enemy would parade their nine-foot hero named Goliath out to the battlefield to challenge one of God’s people to fight him. Day after day he came, day after day he went with no one to fight. Israel had no hero to fight for them. Until one day.

One day, a shepherd boy named David arrived to bring supplies to his brothers who were soldiers for Israel. He was not old enough or strong enough to fight so he was on sheep duty at his father’s house. While David was there he overheard the challenge from Goliath, the Philistine hero. He waited in expectation as one of Israel’s best and brightest would go out to fight in the name of the Lord. But no one went. No one went out to fight. No one but David.

David went to the king to volunteer and was met with laughs. How could a shepherd boy defeat a military champion? It’s suicide, even for the army of Israel. But David made his case. He pleaded with the king to allow him to make this pagan hero eat his words. He argued with the king by telling of how the Lord had strengthened him to kill bears & lions with his bare hands in order to protect the sheep under his care.

Reluctantly the king gave his blessing. David took with him just 5 rocks and a sling to fight the giant. And

as unimpressive as he appeared in comparison to the mighty Goliath, God was with David, and David defeated the giant with one throw of his sling.

One rock, one hit, one dead giant. God’s people were saved and God’s enemies were defeated.

David was the hero!

Most of the time when this story is shared, we are David and God is with us to destroy the “giants” in our lives. But is this the meaning of the story? Are we the hero here, or do we need a hero to rescue us?

We are not the hero in the story. We are the trembling Israelite army unable to do anything about the enemy before us. We are not David here. We are not the hero. We are the ones in need of a hero. David did for his people what they couldn’t do for themselves. He defeated the enemy that they couldn’t defeat on their own. He replaced fear with victory, shame with celebration!

But David isn’t the real hero here either. Well, he is and he isn’t. David later died and Israel continued to need more and more heroes. Until one day, the Hero to end all heroes appeared. David is a picture of the real hero we all need.

Why are we longing for heroes? Why can’t we get enough?

Because deep down we all need a Savior. We all know we need a hero, we need to be rescued. We are trembling in the presence of our Enemy. Victory is nowhere in sight. We are helpless to change our situation on our own. God himself steps in through his son Jesus who takes our place, fights our enemy, and wins the battle that we could never win.

We are all searching for a hero and longing for someone to give us what our hearts really need. Jesus is everything we need. He is the hero. He has won the victory. He has replaced fear with victory, shame with celebration. He is the hero and he is all we need.

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 The United Way Project Pink Fund was created to support women diagnosed with breast cancer in obtaining prescription medication, attend physician or therapy visits, and other basic needs not met through agency-related or personal funds.

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